Left Hand Books to close after 34 years

BOULDER – Left Hand Books in Boulder – a store its volunteer members call “progressive” – is closing.

The store at 1200 Pearl St. is scheduled to close April 15. Left Hand’s book sales have dropped in recent years as online sale of books and the popularity of electronic books have risen, said Louise Knapp, a bookstore volunteer and a member of its collective. All workers are volunteers at the store, which is run as a collective by members.

Sales don’t cover the cost of the store lease, Knapp said, and donations have kept the business going.

“We do this with much sadness and after a year of deliberating on our options and looking for solutions,” Knapp said in an email announcing the closure.

Founded in 1979, the bookstore has offered author appearances, movie nights and discussion groups through its tenure. It has been at its current location since 1991, said Gene Rodriguez, another volunteer.

The store will offer “steep discounts” on books and will sell all fixtures and furniture through April, Knapp said. Any merchandise or furniture left when the store closes will be donated to other entities around town, she said.